The 74 islands of the Whitsundays lay in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, cradled by the tropical waters of the Coral Sea, a truly remarkable icon of beauty. It is not only the majestic wildlife and breathtaking natural sights that make the Whitsundays one of the best places to go on holiday in Australia, but also the huge amount of things to do in the Whitsundays.

Whether its getting in touch with nature while scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, to relaxing on the silky white silica sands of white sands of Whitehaven Beach, find the best things to do on the islands in our Whitsundays Travel Guide.

Exploring the Whitsundays

On land

If you’ve been before and want to explore, or want to get a little ‘off the beaten track’, then jump in a car and the diverse region of the Whitsundays has plenty to be discovered. In Proserpine, traditional Australian country hospitality greets you, with art deco architecture and friendly local pubs, just a 20 minute drive from Airlie Beach.

There is excellent boutique shopping and regular markets on the 1 the Peter Faust Dam, and excellent Barramundi fishing and watersports dam. Exits off Shute Harbour Road between Proserpine and Airlie Beach take you to the secluded townships of Conway Beach and Wilson Beach; Dingo Beach and Hydeaway Bay. These hidden gems are well worth driving to for a day visit or longer. Further north of Proserpine, Bowen is an undiscovered beauty, with seven award winning beaches and a cheerful and friendly township and a brand new water park. Inland from Bowen is Collinsville, a town mainly focused on mining but featuring stunning hinterland, a large dam for fishing and watersports and excellent outback for four wheel driving. Each of the major townships and rural beaches have holiday parks where you can park your van, or camp, and explore the region from there.

On the water

For an experience that’s really special, set up camp at one of the many designated camping spots on the Whitsunday islands. All campsites have maximum numbers and the chances are you’ll have your spot all to yourself. Permits are cheap, easy to obtain and the views are worth a million dollars. Many sites have toilet facilities and camp tables, access to a range of tropical rainforest bush walks, and beautiful views of the ocean. www.nprsr.qld.gov.au Getting there is easiest if you have your own boat (private boat or bareboat), but there is also an island camping transfer service that drops you directly onto the beach. Be sure to pick up a local tide chart and fishing zone map before you go.